It’s been 44 years since Holiday on the Buses was filmed in Prestatyn and some of the remaining cast returned for a reunion as cast and fans took a walk up to “Blakey’s Security Gates” and beyond, into Pontins Prestatyn Holiday Camp, the Goosebumps arrived for many of the Avid Holiday on the Buses Fan. Thanks to many of the Famous Filming Locations around the Prestatyn area remaining unchanged, many suddenly felt like they had stepped back into the past to that wonderful time in 1973 when filming took place.
We caught back up with Rich Coghill, one of the event’s organisers, to have a chat about how the reunion went, Rich told us, “It felt extra special on the 23rd and 24th September 2017 as the Cast Reunion Weekend in Prestatyn and Rhyl was taking place and the fans were lapping up every valuable piece of information from some of the Cast who were all delighted to be back together.”
The Girls are back together! From L-R
Anna Karen, Carolae Donoghue, Brenda Gogan, Cynthia Price and Annette Long.
The Holiday on the Buses Reunion saw Anna Karen (Olive) joined by Annette Long and Carolae Donoghue (Stan and Jack’s Girlfriends) an extra from the Film, Cynthia Price (Sitting in the Nurse’s Waiting Room), Doris Hare‘s (Stan’s Mum) 2 Daughters Sue and Kate, along with very special guest Brenda Gogan (Bridget from the first On the Buses Spin-Off Film) and Andria Lawrence (Turnaround Betty) also from the first film. But nobody was more disappointed to not be able to make the event than Adam Rhodes who played Little Arthur. Adam, who was only 4 at the time of filming, is now an airline pilot and, sadly, he had to fly to New York. But we have been told that he hopes to be a part of a future event.
The Tour Bus Kindly Donated by Howards Travel Group
Not only did fans get to meet the cast, but an open top bus was supplied by Howards Travel Group to allow fans to go on a locations tour, which visited many of the locations used in the film, such as Dyserth Waterfalls, Rhuddlan Bridge and a “Mystery Tour“.
And for fans of the film that may not have seen it in a theatre experience, the Rhyl Pavilion Theatre showed the film which was followed by Q&A session to end the Saturday with. Sunday was the chance for fans to grab some autographs and join in with a photo session, the day finished with a walking tour of the filming locations on Pontins Holiday Camp by Craig Walker (Author of the book, On the Buses Filming Locations).
Rich told us that after the event had finished he took a moment to put into context the words from one of the cast members that she had, “shed a tear when seeing herself up on screen and all the wonderful memories it brought flooding back“, and also from John Clarke who along with his family had travelled over from Canada for the event and were picked at random to join the cast for dinner on Saturday evening, “I want to thank you greatly and deeply for including us at the Dinner at Nova.You’ll never know how much that meant to us“.
Anna Karen back in the Swimming Pool – Holiday on the Buses Reunion
Rich ended by telling us, “The film has captured the hearts of generations and it was a pleasure to bring so much joy to everyone by holding this reunion. It is due to all these loyal fans that On the Buses remains as popular as ever and the coverage ITV gives the series is phenomenal.”
He went on to to say, “huge thanks to Eli, Mark and Steve at Pontins Prestatyn, Gareth Owen (Manager) Andy Hughes and the Staff at Rhyl Pavillion Theatre and everyone at Nova Prestatyn for their assistance and Howard’s Travel Group for the Bus, we could not have had such a Great Event without You.”
Images courtesy Rich Coghill
Karen Woodham is the founder and owner of the Blazing Minds. She is also a Cinema reviewer and works with RealD 3D reviewing the latest 3D releases and IMAX, she has also had several articles published in various publications including the first edition of SFW Magazine. In 2015 she became an Award Winning Blogger and also has her website listed as one of the UK’s Top 10 Film Blogs.
